Unwanted American export rampaging across Mexico border

Some 5 million feral hogs are found throughout the country and in almost every habitat, spreading as far north as Canada from their original territory in the South. It is estimated these hogs cause about $1.5 billion in damage and control costs each year. Read the full story at www.expressnews.com.

By Photos by Bob Owen

on May 23, 2014 9:21 PM

Photo: BOB OWEN/San Antonio Express-News

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A feral hog charges in an attempt to escape from captivity. A total of 14 hogs were trapped and killed by exotic animal control agents on a farm just outside Ojinaga, MX. The hogs are destroying crops and the State of Chihuahua is attempting to reduce the number of the animals. Since there is little to no farming across the river in Presidio County, it is believed the hogs are coming from the US in search of food. Tuesday, May 13, 2014. less

A feral hog charges in an attempt to escape from captivity. A total of 14 hogs were trapped and killed by exotic animal control agents on a farm just outside Ojinaga, MX. The hogs are destroying crops and the ... more

Photo: BOB OWEN, San Antonio Express-News

A feral hog charges in an attempt to escape from captivity. A... Photo-6348487.86407 - Houston Chronicle

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Arnaldo Valenzuela, co-owner of farm land with his brother Gilberto Valenzuela, inspects a field of alfalfa destroyed by feral hogs. A group from the Chihuahua State Wildlife office trap and kill wild hogs that are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. Since there is little to no farming across the river in Presidio County, it is believed the hogs are coming from the US in search of food. Tuesday, May 13, 2014. less

Arnaldo Valenzuela, co-owner of farm land with his brother Gilberto Valenzuela, inspects a field of alfalfa destroyed by feral hogs. A group from the Chihuahua State Wildlife office trap and kill wild hogs ... more

A group from the Chihuahua State Wildlife office trap and kill wild hogs that are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. Since there is little to no farming across the river in Presidio County, it is believed the hogs are coming from the US in search of food. Tuesday, May 13, 2014. less

A group from the Chihuahua State Wildlife office trap and kill wild hogs that are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. Since there is little to no farming across the river in Presidio County, it ... more

Photo: BOB OWEN, San Antonio Express-News

A group from the Chihuahua State Wildlife office trap and kill wild... Photo-6348528.86407 - Houston Chronicle

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A hog scull hangs on a fence which borders a farm just outside Ojinaga, MX. A group from the Chihuahua State Wildlife office trap and kill wild hogs that are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. Since there is little to no farming across the river in Presidio County, it is believed the hogs are coming from the US in search of food. Tuesday, May 13, 2014. less

A hog scull hangs on a fence which borders a farm just outside Ojinaga, MX. A group from the Chihuahua State Wildlife office trap and kill wild hogs that are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. ... more

Photo: BOB OWEN, San Antonio Express-News

A hog scull hangs on a fence which borders a farm just outside... Photo-6348506.86407 - Houston Chronicle

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Alejandro Gonzalez, above, an exotic animal control agent for the State of Chihuahua sets up a blind from where he can watch feral hogs enter a trap on a farm outside Ojinaga, MX. Wild hogs are destroying farmers crops just across the dried up Rio Grande. Since there is little to no farming across the river in Presidio County, it is believed the hogs are coming from the US in search of food. Tuesday, May 13, 2014. less

Alejandro Gonzalez, above, an exotic animal control agent for the State of Chihuahua sets up a blind from where he can watch feral hogs enter a trap on a farm outside Ojinaga, MX. Wild hogs are destroying ... more

Exotic animal control agents for the State of Chihuahua inspect a trap they use to capture feral hogs. The group trap and kill the hogs that are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. Since there is little to no farming across the river in Presidio County, it is believed the hogs are coming from the US in search of food. Tuesday, May 13, 2014. less

Exotic animal control agents for the State of Chihuahua inspect a trap they use to capture feral hogs. The group trap and kill the hogs that are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. Since there is ... more

Photo: BOB OWEN, San Antonio Express-News

Exotic animal control agents for the State of Chihuahua inspect a... Photo-6348512.86407 - Houston Chronicle

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Leonel Duran, right, an exotic animal control agent for the State of Chihuahua, pours a bottle of vanilla extract into a barrel of fermented corn to be used as bait in a trap for feral hogs on a farm just outside Ojinaga, MX. Tuesday, May 13, 2014. At left is Luis Antonio Gamboa Ballesteros, Chief of the Wildlife Department for the State of Chihuahua. less

Leonel Duran, right, an exotic animal control agent for the State of Chihuahua, pours a bottle of vanilla extract into a barrel of fermented corn to be used as bait in a trap for feral hogs on a farm just ... more

Exotic animal control agents for the State of Chihuahua spread corn to trap and kill wild hogs that are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. Since there is little to no farming across the river in Presidio County, it is believed the hogs are coming from the US in search of food. Tuesday, May 13, 2014. less

Exotic animal control agents for the State of Chihuahua spread corn to trap and kill wild hogs that are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. Since there is little to no farming across the river in ... more

Photo: BOB OWEN, San Antonio Express-News

Exotic animal control agents for the State of Chihuahua spread corn... Photo-6348516.86407 - Houston Chronicle

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Alejandro Gonzalez, an exotic control agent for the State of Chihuahua, gets his rifle as he prepares to hide in a blind set up in the cab of an old tractor, waiting for hogs to enter the trap on a farm just outside Ojinago, MX. Tuesday, May 13, 2014. less

Alejandro Gonzalez, an exotic control agent for the State of Chihuahua, gets his rifle as he prepares to hide in a blind set up in the cab of an old tractor, waiting for hogs to enter the trap on a farm just ... more

Photo: BOB OWEN, San Antonio Express-News

Alejandro Gonzalez, an exotic control agent for the State of... Photo-6348518.86407 - Houston Chronicle

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Leonel Duran, lower, and Alejandro Gonzalez set a blind as they prepare to trap feral hogs on a farm just outside Ojinago, MX. Tuesday, May 13, 2014.

Leonel Duran, lower, and Alejandro Gonzalez set a blind as they prepare to trap feral hogs on a farm just outside Ojinago, MX. Tuesday, May 13, 2014.

A group from the Chihuahua State Wildlife office trap and kill wild hogs that are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. Since there is little to no farming across the river in Presidio County, it is believed the hogs are coming from the US in search of food. Tuesday, May 13, 2014. less

A group from the Chihuahua State Wildlife office trap and kill wild hogs that are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. Since there is little to no farming across the river in Presidio County, it ... more

Photo: BOB OWEN, San Antonio Express-News

A group from the Chihuahua State Wildlife office trap and kill wild... Photo-6348521.86407 - Houston Chronicle

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Alejandro Gonzalez uses binoculars to check on a trap as he prepares to capture feral hogs on a ranch just outside Ojinaga, MX. Tuesday, May 13, 2014.

Alejandro Gonzalez uses binoculars to check on a trap as he prepares to capture feral hogs on a ranch just outside Ojinaga, MX. Tuesday, May 13, 2014.

Leonel Duran checks his radio to make sure he has communication with a worker in the blind set up in an old tractor. A group from the Chihuahua State Wildlife office trap and kill wild hogs that are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. Since there is little to no farming across the river in Presidio County, it is believed the hogs are coming from the US in search of food. Tuesday, May 13, 2014. less

Leonel Duran checks his radio to make sure he has communication with a worker in the blind set up in an old tractor. A group from the Chihuahua State Wildlife office trap and kill wild hogs that are destroying ... more

Photo: BOB OWEN, San Antonio Express-News

Leonel Duran checks his radio to make sure he has communication... Photo-6348352.86407 - Houston Chronicle

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Trapped feral hogs scamper in a pen trying to get out. A group from the Chihuahua State Wildlife office trap and kill wild hogs that are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. Since there is little to no farming across the river in Presidio County, it is believed the hogs are coming from the US in search of food. Tuesday, May 13, 2014. less

Trapped feral hogs scamper in a pen trying to get out. A group from the Chihuahua State Wildlife office trap and kill wild hogs that are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. Since there is little ... more

Trapped feral hogs scamper in a pen trying to get out. A group from the Chihuahua State Wildlife office trap and kill wild hogs that are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. Since there is little to no farming across the river in Presidio County, it is believed the hogs are coming from the US in search of food. Tuesday, May 13, 2014. less

Trapped feral hogs scamper in a pen trying to get out. A group from the Chihuahua State Wildlife office trap and kill wild hogs that are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. Since there is little ... more

Photo: BOB OWEN, San Antonio Express-News

Trapped feral hogs scamper in a pen trying to get out. A group from... Photo-6348531.86407 - Houston Chronicle

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Exotic animal control agents take aim at trapped feral hogs on a ranch just outside Ojinaga, MX. Tuesday, May 13, 2014.

Exotic animal control agents take aim at trapped feral hogs on a ranch just outside Ojinaga, MX. Tuesday, May 13, 2014.

Leonel Duran, an exotic animal control agent for the State of Chihuahua shoots trapped feral hogs as another charges him in vain. Wild hogs are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. Since there is little to no farming across the river in Presidio County, it is believed the hogs are coming from the US in search of food. Tuesday, May 13, 2014. less

Leonel Duran, an exotic animal control agent for the State of Chihuahua shoots trapped feral hogs as another charges him in vain. Wild hogs are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. Since there is ... more

Photo: BOB OWEN, San Antonio Express-News

Leonel Duran, an exotic animal control agent for the State of... Photo-6348493.86407 - Houston Chronicle

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Alejandro Gonzalez, right, and Jesus Carnero, count and tag the 14 hogs they trapped and killed on a farm just outside Ojinaga, MX. Tuesday, May 13, 2014.

Alejandro Gonzalez, right, and Jesus Carnero, count and tag the 14 hogs they trapped and killed on a farm just outside Ojinaga, MX. Tuesday, May 13, 2014.

Leonel Duran, left, takes notes on each tagged hog that was trapped and killed on a farm just out side Ojinaga, MX. Wild hogs are destroying farmers crops. Since there is little to no farming across the river in Presidio County, it is believed the hogs are coming from the US in search of food. Tuesday, May 13, 2014. less

Leonel Duran, left, takes notes on each tagged hog that was trapped and killed on a farm just out side Ojinaga, MX. Wild hogs are destroying farmers crops. Since there is little to no farming across the river ... more

Miguel Angel Dominguez uses an axe to chop off the head of a feral hog trapped on a farm just outside Ojinaga, MX. A group from the Chihuahua State Wildlife office trap and kill wild hogs that are destroying farmers crops just outside Ojinaga, MX. Since there is little to no farming across the river in Presidio County, it is believed the hogs are coming from the US in search of food. Tuesday, May 13, 2014. less

Miguel Angel Dominguez uses an axe to chop off the head of a feral hog trapped on a farm just outside Ojinaga, MX. A group from the Chihuahua State Wildlife office trap and kill wild hogs that are destroying ... more

Photo: BOB OWEN, San Antonio Express-News

Miguel Angel Dominguez uses an axe to chop off the head of a feral... Photo-6348504.86407 - Houston Chronicle